Exhaust systems and parts
It's a matter of flow
The exhaust system discharges the gases that arise during the operation of the combustion engine of a vehicle, and dampens the noise of the combustion process.
Generally, exhausts can be divided into two groups: normal exhausts and sports exhausts. Normal exhausts are usually narrower than sports exhausts. This works sound dampening, but also creates greater backpressure, resulting in power loss. The sports exhaust system, however, is more spacious, with better flow and therefore less backpressure, resulting in more torque and more power.
When a new car rolls out of the factory, it has a so-called OEM exhaust. Usually extremely quiet and giving little way to the potency of the engine. A car must comply with regulations in many countries. Car lovers tend to replace the standard exhaust by a sports exhaust. Reasons for this are often the tail tip (end piece) is not beautiful or not visible, the car should perform better, but mostly just to get a nicer sound.
Exhaust system set-up
The exhaust system differs per car. The exhaust is attached to the engine block via the manifold. A flexible pipe, compensator flange or coupling with springs between the manifold and the rest of the exhaust, absorbs the tilting of the engine block to prevent breaking. Next, there are one or more catalytic converters, the middle muffler or resonator, and finally the silencer with tail tips. For a turbo engine, the turbo connects to the manifold, followed by the downpipe (front pipe), often with catalytic converter, and the rest of the exhaust system.
Your car's engine is in fact a large fuel and air pump. What goes in also needs to come out. Therefore a simple muffler with a big mouth doesn't gain any power, but an optimized exhaust does. Most exhausts are cat-back, running from the catalytic converter to the rear of the car. For more serious power - still emissions related - the exhaust manifold(s) at the engine and the tubing to the catalytic converter (downpipe) need upgrading.
Read even more about exhausts here
